Anatomy of the Arm & Hand — Part 1 | Introduction to Upper Limb Anatomy

Описание: Welcome to Module 11, where we begin our exploration of the anatomy of the arm and hand. This module lays the foundation for understanding how the upper limbs function, how they connect to the body, and why this knowledge is essential for safe and intelligent yoga practice.

🧠 Why Study the Upper Limbs?

In Samkhya philosophy, the hands are considered an organ of action—a primary way we interact with and experience the world.

• The arms allow us to reach, hug, gather, and protect
• The forearms, wrists, hands, and opposable thumbs enable us to:
– Write
– Play music
– Use tools
– Type
– Create and build

It is not an overstatement to say that without the remarkable structure of the arms, wrists, and hands, human civilization as we know it would not exist.

🧘‍♀️ Why This Matters in Yoga

• In yoga, we frequently weight-bear through the hands and wrists
• While upper-body strength is a benefit of practice, the wrists and hands are not naturally designed for repetitive loading
• To gain strength safely, we must understand the delicate structures we are asking to support weight

With the high prevalence of repetitive stress injuries in modern culture, a solid understanding of wrist and hand anatomy is essential for:

• Creating safe yoga practices
• Preventing injury
• Offering intelligent modifications
• Supporting long-term joint health

🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Identify the bones of the arm and hand
• Describe the joint structures of the upper limb
• Demonstrate movements of the:
– Elbow
– Radioulnar joint
– Radiocarpal joint
– Midcarpal joints
– Fingers and thumb

• Locate and demonstrate the action of key muscles of the arm and hand
• Identify risk factors associated with weight-bearing on the wrists and hands
• Describe yoga-based strategies for addressing carpal tunnel syndrome

🦴 Review of the Shoulder Girdle

This material overlaps with the Anatomy of the Shoulder module.

• If you have already completed that module, use this as a review
• If this is new material, approach it as an overview of how the arm connects to the body

The shoulder girdle is composed of:

• Sternum
• Clavicle
• Scapula
• Humerus

• The sternum is the only skeletal connection between the shoulder girdle and the axial skeleton

🦴 Primary Joints of the Shoulder Girdle

• Scapulothoracic (scapulocostal) joint
– The scapula glides over the rib cage

• Glenohumeral joint
– Where the humerus (upper arm bone) connects to the scapula

🎓 For 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Students

• An applied anatomy activity is available in the Google Classroom
• Complete the activity and upload your video or coursework for final assessment

✨ This introductory lesson sets the stage for understanding how strength, mobility, and awareness in the upper limbs support safe, sustainable, and intelligent yoga practice.